| Content | Bohuslav Martinů thanks Paul Sacher for his two letters. Matters [of BM and Charlotte Martinů] are progressing very slowly and it is possible that they will miss the boat on 25 December.
BM asks for the address of [Jean Rudolph and Nelly Louise] Frey, has not yet received it from PS.
BM is very pleased with the success of the DOUBLE CONCERT. He has received enthusiastic letters from Bern, Geneva and from friends in Aix-en-Provence who were able to hear the concert.
As regards the Universal Edition [CONCERTO GROSSO], PS is of course right [see Sac 1940-11-21], BM apologises for the confusion. In any case, the manuscript should be with Louis Wauthier, UE have only to write to him. It is now possible to send parcels from Paris. BM has the material with him, will send it to Sacher in a few days.
Has PS received the material and the score of the Piano Concerto [No. 2]?
BM is working hard, he has finished FANTASIA AND TOCCATO ("Fantasie et Rondo"), SINFONIETTU GIOCOSU ("Sinfonia p. piano et petit ensemble") and is writing SONATA DA CAMERA ("Concertino p. violoncello avec petit orchestre"). Paradoxically, everything he writes is very far from his current state of mind: it is music that is at its core cheerful, positive and bright. His work is, of course, complicated by his constant travel to [Marseille].
As for the cantata, he is thinking of something along the lines of Emilio de' Cavalieri's Rappresentazione di Anima e di Corpo, which ushered in a new musical epoch. He has a few ideas of his own, which are slowly taking shape and coming together. In America he finds someone to whom I explain my idea of the text. The title, which he has a very personal idea about, he would like to [keep to himself]. |